Burton Ion Boots 2010 Review

Finding the right snowboard is undoubtedly a very important mission, but finding the right pair of boots is just as important. I’ve had 2008 model of the Burton Ion boots for a couple seasons now, but this year I upgraded to the 2010 model.  I wouldn’t normally review a boot, because the feel of one will differ from person to person, but this will offer some light into your dark search for a boot.

Setup: I used the Burton Ion boots with Burton’s T6 snowboard and Burton’s C60 bindings.

Where: Blue Mountain, Mont Tremblant, Banff, Colorado, and Whistler with all kinds of snow conditions.

Technology:

• Speed Zone Lacing: makes loosening and tightening boots very easy.
• Low-profile EST Optimized Midsole: essentially this tech brings you closer to the binding and thus lowering your center of gravity. In my opinion, every little bit counts.
• RX Adjustable Cushioning: Very fancy way of saying that you can change the gel pack used in the boots, but useful nonetheless. You can opt for more cushioning for easier riding, or less cushioning for more aggressive riding.

Pro’s:

• Very easy to put on/take off: The boots’ speed zone lacing combined with the excellent boot quality and build, putting them on and taking them off was very easy. Just loosen them all the way, tighten the liners (the inside layer), and pull away on the two laces. Done.
• Comfortable: Man are these comfortable boots! Strapped and unstrapped, the Burton Ions hug your feet oh so warmly.
• Flexibility: This is an all-mountain freestyle boot and I must say, it lives up to that designation. Burton pegged the Ion a 8/10 for support (1/10 being least stiff and 10/10 stiffest). In other words, these boots are excellent for all around riding. With over a 100 days of riding, my older Burton Ions are (surprisingly) as stiff as new and thus wear n’ tear has not diminished the boots’ excellent responsiveness.
• Style: The Burton Ion 2010 are very well designed, and unlike most boots, they look sexy (I have the black ones, but they also come in white).

Neutral:

• Heel lift: I didn’t want to put this in the Con’s section, simply because I’m a very aggressive rider who likes taking jumps, so heel lift is inevitable. Nonetheless, I still experienced some heel lift, and I really wasn’t expecting any given that the Burton Ions are Burton’s 2nd most expensive snowboarding boots. With that said, the extra ankle support pads that come with the boots work well to decrease the heel lift. However, those pads were designed to be used after a few years of usage, but instead, I had to install them within the first season.

Con’s:

• Expensive: Did the Italians design these boots or what? I bought my first Ions a season old for $250, but I shelled out $400 for the new ’10 model. Boots that cost more than a decent number of snowboards are expensive any way you spin it.
• Too stiff for the park: The Burton Ions are unfriendly when it comes to park play. While taking and landing jumps are doable in these, you’ll feel the pain when you switching and more so when landing switch jumps. Tip: make sure you are wearing thick socks if you insist on park play.

Current Model v.s. Previous Models

• Design has been changed, albeit slightly, but I like the new ones more.
• The current model has been optimized for EST bindings (explained above in the ‘Technology’ section).
• Speed zone lacing system has been altered to easier usability (I didn’t feel much of a difference, but that just could be my experienced hands).
• Changeable gel pack (explained in ‘Technology’ section), which was also available in the ’09 model, but non-existent in prior to that.

My Suggestions to Burton:

• As always, please find it in your hearts to use less fancy ‘BS’ terminology.
• Let’s work on improving the heel lift issue, even if I’m the only one experiencing.

I love my Burton Ion boots, and there’s a reason why I bought the newer models. As an aggressive rider who likes to play around a bit on the mountain, these boots are as good as they get at the moment. With that said, keep in mind that your experience with boots will be different than my experience, so make sure you try them on first at the store. And when you do, feel free to walk around in them in the store for 5-10 minutes before you make a decision. Finding the right snowboarding boots is important!

If you have any questions, comments, or want to share your experience with the boots, leave a comment below or contact us.

Should I buy online or from the local store?

I’m a huge, nay, the hugest, proponent and advocate of the internet. I’ve been drinking the internet koolaid since I was 10, back when the internet cost $60/month, Google did not exist, Yahoo was still a rudimentary directory in the making, and text-only websites were the recommended viewing choice). And when it comes to online buying, I feel the same way.

I buy whatever I want online, not because I’m lazy, but because it’s more convenient, and usually cheaper (and I’m lazy). With same-day shipping and next-day delivery, why waste the gas and time going into a store if I know what I want. What’s more is that, if you’re not doing your research online, then you’re not being smart . Websites like this and thousands of others dedicated to providing honest reviews on just about anything (I mean com’on, there are websites out there that review sex toys and birth control products for your sake) are available to help you make a better shopping decision.

So when it comes to buying your snowboarding gear online, I say go for it, BUT given the nature of snowboarding gear, it’s always best to go into your local store first. “But dude, doesn’t that defeat the point?” In a way it does, but here’s why buying your gear online is a smart choice:

Deals - you will always find deals on the gear you want. If it’s not website X, then it’ll be website Y. There’s always a website out there that’ll offer you a good deal on what you’re finding. Tip: If website X has a deal on a snowboard you want, but not on the boots, buy the snowboard from website X, and go to website Y for a deal on the boots.

Fast and Free Delivery – when you’re forking over an arm and a leg (and even a kidney sometimes) for your gear, websites selling you the gear will offer same-day AND free delivery.

Cheaper – Even if there are no deals on the gear you want, you can find the same gear for a better price online than at your local shop.

Last Year’s Model – I love buying last year’s models, because they’re always significantly cheaper. My new 2008 Burton T6 cost me $450 instead of $850 when I bought it. Unless you’re at a board show, you won’t find last year’s models except for online stores. Most local shops, don’t stock previous models.

I contemplated making a list of online stores, but in an effort to remain neutral, I’d have to compare each one fairly and I’ll leave that for another post.

So if you’re looking for new gear: check out snowboard reviews, go to your local store, figure out what you want, compare prices, and buy from the cheaper source.

Head Cams Roundup!

So the snowboard season is in full swing and many of you have already stocked up on some new gear from your local shop and getting super stoked to rip up some fresh pow. One thing I definitely regret at the end of every season is having zero footage of me and my buddies, especially when it’s mid-July and you’re suffering from full on ride-withdrawal. That is exactly why I decided to invest in a mountable head cam for this season. Think about it. You spend thousands of dollars on snowboard equipment and quite possibly even more on trips to resorts and at the end of it all the only thing you end up with is a few awkward pictures. Why not invest in one of these with your buddies, take turns wearing it, and have hours of footage to supplement the great stories you’re ending the season with.

After hours of research, I’ve narrowed down hundreds of options to just a few I think everyone should consider.

1. GoPro Helmet Hero Wide ($190)
www.goprocamera.com

• Pros:
o Dollar for dollar, by far the best value for your money.
o Included mounts affix to just about anything you can think of.
o Conveniently records to SD cards.
o Shock-proof and water-proof, which is critical for the hardcore rider.

• Cons:
o Inhales AAA batteries faster than the fat kid with the Chuck E Cheese pizza.
o Confusing menu system.

2. VHoldR CountourHD ($300)
www.vholdr.com

• Pros:
o Shoots in full 720p high def resolution at 30 frames per second.
o Small with easy to use mount.
o Records to microSD cards in a format that’s friendly on both Mac or PC.
o Lets you shoot in slow motion in 480p!
o Laser pointers on the side direct you to what you’re shooting.

• Cons:
o Not 100% water-proof, so you need to stay somewhat dry!

3. V.I.O. POV. 1.5 ($700)
www.vio-pov.com

• Pros:
o Used by many professional athletes.
o Water-proof, dust-proof, shock-resistant.
o Small wireless remote lets you start and stop footage very conveniently.

• Cons:
o Doesn’t shoot in high definition with only 4.3 standard def.

Editor’s Pick

After looking at the pros and cons of each (and many other head cams), the decision is pretty easy. Nothing beats GoPro’s Helmet Hero Wide. It’s nicely priced and will do just about anything you want with it. The mount system is convenient and actually works. I saw some footage of someone mounting this thing to the side of his SUV to record his trek up to a local mountain. For an extra $100 you can get the HD version of this helmet cam, which still beats VHoldR’s CountourHD because it’s still shock-proof and water-resistant. It is slightly bulky when compared to other tiny head cams but reviews I’ve read state that it’s very light, which is all that matters really. This thing is definitely on my Christmas list!

Snowskate Video

If you’re on the slopes and all of a sudden you get an undying urge to skate, snowskating might be the thing for you. Given the size of this thing, it wouldn’t hurt to just have one in the trunk for when that urge comes knockin’. The ‘snowskate’ in this video is a Fuse Snowskate.

Snowboard Turning Tips Video

Found this video earlier today and thought it’d make for an interesting ‘tips & tricks’ post. I don’t need to tell you how important your turning techniques are, but very often, riders overlook it and don’t realize that they have bad turning technique. Hopefully this will prove useful.